Syria says Turkey involved in looting
Friday, January 11, 2013SYRIA has accused neighbouring Turkey of involvement in looting factories in the industrial city of Aleppo, in letters sent to UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.
"Some 1000 factories in the city of Aleppo have been plundered, and their stolen goods transferred to Turkey with the full knowledge and facilitation of the Turkish government," the foreign ministry said in the letters.
"It is an illegal act of aggression that amounts to piracy. It is an act of aggression against the Syrian people's livelihood," the ministry added.
The ministry charged that Turkey, which backs the armed rebellion against the Damascus government, "is supporting terrorism while providing the conditions to help plunder Syria's riches.
"This requires a reaction by the UN Security Council," the ministry said.
Turkey's alleged actions "contribute directly to cross-border crime and piracy, which require an international reaction", it said.
The ministry also called on Turkey to "return the (looted) property to its owners, and pay compensation to those affected".